Labour Members Favor Higher Taxes, Increased Spending: Poll
A new survey indicates a significant portion of Labour party members believe current taxation and public service spending levels are insufficient, with a notable desire for increased government expenditure.
Nearly two-thirds of Labour members believe the government taxes too little and spends too little on public services, according to a YouGov poll. The survey found that 64 percent of Labour members hold this view, contrasting sharply with the wider British public, where over two-fifths believe the government taxes and spends too much.
Less than 10 percent of Labour members surveyed feel that the government taxes and spends too much, while only one-fifth of the general public shares the view that the government taxes and spends too little.
The poll was conducted prior to a keynote speech by Andy Burnham at the Labour conference in Liverpool. Burnham is expected to outline plans for an NHS-style social care system, estimated to cost £18 billion annually. Concerns have been raised that funding for such initiatives might involve changes to policies like the 'triple lock' on state pensions and increased taxes in an upcoming budget.
When asked to identify areas where government spending should be most heavily cut, Labour members most frequently selected pensions, with 32 percent choosing this option. Foreign aid spending was selected by 25 percent, and welfare benefits by 23 percent.
The National Health Service and education were the least selected areas for cuts among Labour members, each receiving only 1 percent of the vote. A further 25 percent of Labour members indicated they would not want to cut any of the listed areas.
Younger Labour members, those under 40, showed a stronger inclination towards cutting pensions, with 42 percent listing it as an area for reductions. Older members were less inclined to cut pensions, with only 15 percent favoring such cuts. Instead, 41 percent of older members stated they would not want to cut any of the provided options.
The general public's priorities for spending cuts differ significantly. Sixty percent of Britons believe foreign aid spending should be reduced, followed by welfare benefits at 42 percent, and environmental and climate change initiatives at 28 percent. Less than 10 percent of the general public considers pension spending a top area for significant cuts.
The YouGov poll surveyed 781 Labour members aged 16 and over online between September 18 and 23. The research was conducted in collaboration with Sky News and iNHouse Communications.